After weeks of trying to get together with Swedish Rocket Scientist, to go see this movie, I gave up. Last week, Swede, decided to go camping up in the San Juan Islands. I was finally cleared to drive a car short distances - so, I decided to finally go see it by myself! The theater is only 6 miles away.
And I have to admit with all of my walls down, running on new nature alone - it was an interesting adventure. No, I no longer like seeing movies by myself. And, in all it was an unsatisfying adventure because of that.
The movie was a bit weird. Napoleon is a sociopath? lllya is a psychopath? That is a new take there. Most of the movie seems have the two of them planning on how to the kill the other or at least get one upsmanship over each other. Add a young supposed East German female auto mechanic and you have some odd pairings.
The story revolves around Edvard Teller (Edward to the yanks), a nuclear scientist whom has gone missing and the father of the girl.
Okay, here reality gets strained horribly. Teller was one of my "uncles", him and father were best friends. He ran the Lawrence Livermore Labs, where father did much of his work on the hydrogen beast. It has been so long ago, I had even forgotten what he actually looked like! So, since the movie brought it up, I went on to the internet image files to see if I could spot him in the photos which would pop up.
Oh yeah, that also triggered a new memory as well.
As then I was to be reminded of Szilard, whose name I had long forgotten but whose bizarre antics and sense of humor helped to mold me in those early days. When I saw the scientists' images, memories came rushing back ... Of that group of scientists, it was Szilard whom I had the strongest memories of - he was one warped dude. The strangest of things fascinated him, practical jokes were common place. And strangely, he and Teller did not get along at all! I can remember playing with my toys on the floor and he and Teller going at it - no idea what over, I was a little kid after-all. And I "loved" them both as uncles, it was a paradox. Through the years, I only remembered him as Uncle Lizard - LOL.
In reality, Szilard dies in 1964, after my grandfather's death (not a good year!), Teller dies in 2003, but in this movie, well he does not fair so well as far as longevity is concerned! :( If they had used Szilard, at least they could have had someone whom died closer to the movie year! Bad research there!
So, Teller is eventually found, having already invented a new type of bomb for an ill defined group of rich bad people. Napoleon and Illya do not fare well either, the girl turns out to be a double agent and amidst everyone's bungling - the bomb gets shipped. Nope not going to tell you more!
Lots of chase scenes, some comical and inventive. Lots of explosions. Action and adventure! All the teenage male mind requires!
However, don't expect good acting nor script nor usage of the actors to their best potential. The only interesting actors are the two prominent women. One, the East German, does extremely well and I never saw the solution coming which concerned her, then she become less interesting. The other is Italian and talk about under utilizing a talent or role! Gees, the director missed big time on that one! If you wanted a psychopath - it should have been her!
As for the male roles: Armie, of Lone Ranger fame, still needs to remember he is not an underwear model and actually start acting and not just strut into and out of a scene! As for Illya - a Russian accent is not that hard, and if you can not do it, maybe do a different kind of movie? Mr. Waverly is Hugh Grant (I think, it looked like him anyway). But, he plays a very minor role.
So, KGB vs CIA vs MI-6 ... so what happened to the GDU? You are playing in East Germany and there is no GDU presence? Heavens! About 20% of the East German population were GDU informers! What about the Stasi? Huge error here! So, I have to wonder once again why would you do a movie without doing just basic background research - or maybe just talking to an East German for a day about East German conditions? And for humor they could have tossed in a very young Putin as a Stasi wannabe worshiper (in the wrong place at the wrong time, but reality has already been violate here!). You know, beating up smaller children to take their stuffed toys away from them. (Teddy Bears today, Ukraine tomorrow?)
One, one second, nude scene which was completely unnecessary. Lots of shoot 'em up, bang 'em ups. Lots of missed opportunities. But, it was an entertaining 2 hours. In all, not much of a movie but so "C" grade that I may end up having to own this one!
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